A year-long power struggle between two Warren County government committees has ended with one throwing in the towel.

The county’s Corrections Partnership Committee unanimously voted to go dormant, if Sheriff Tommy Myers no longer wants to work with the committee. That decision came Tuesday when members met and Myers, nor any of his staff, were in attendance.

“Communication stopped when we started talking about establishing written duties and responsibilities,” said Commissioner Steven Helton. “Before that, jail administration was working with us. We’ve called a county Corrections Partnership meeting and requested jail administration be here tonight. They aren’t here. That’s an indication of their receptiveness of this committee.”

Commissioner Carl D. Bouldin stated, “Steven is right. This is a null and void committee because the jail’s not participating with us. The expansion for the storage room wasn’t brought to our committee. It would have been in the past. It was taken to the Safety Committee. I found out about it when I read it in the newspaper.”

For most of 2020, there has been a power struggle between this committee and the county Safety Committee over which committee oversees the jail’s annual budget and any budget transfer requests made during the year. In the middle was Sheriff Myers and to which committee he would report. 

“The jail’s administration doesn’t need to report to two committees,” said Helton. “That’s redundant. They’ve obviously sided with Safety. That’s where they went.”

Commissioner Carl E. Bouldin added, “It looks like it will be hard to do anything if the sheriff and his administration don’t want us. What’s the use of butting our head against the wall?”

Without participation there is no partnership. 

“I don’t see any need in trying to help someone who doesn’t want your help,” said Carl D. “In the future, there may be an elected official who does want our help or have a need for it. For right now, there’s no need in wasting taxpayers money by meeting.”

Commissioners are paid $30 for each meeting. If all five members are present, the meeting costs taxpayers $150. That amount does not include pay to any jail administration staff when they are in attendance. 

Tuesday’s meeting had four members in attendance.

Carl D. made a motion for the committee to go dormant. “I second that motion,” said Carl E.

Helton voiced his belief the committee should end, not go dormant. 

Commissioners voted for the committee to go dormant. The decision to end the committee would take approval of the full Warren County Commission. Its next meeting is Monday, Nov. 16.